New horizons living the dream. How?

K80_Black

I became unwell around 6 years ago and had to go from working full time in an OK paying job to receiving benefits.

I suddenly found myself with 40+ extra hours a week to fill, and little money to spend on my usual entertainment. I know you currently want to have more time to stop and smell the roses, but trust me, after a few months, you'll know what they smell like and be wanting to smell some daisies, peonies and fuchsia too! Bear in mind that with extra time off comes extra expenses for keeping yourself entertained.

If you haven't properly tracked your spending before, now might be a good time to start. Although I knew roughly how much I spent in total each month, I thought I spent far less on some things and far more on others. Keeping a detailed spending diary has helped me cut back on what I class as non-essentials.

Even though my career break was forced upon me, not out of choice, it's possible to have a very nice fulfilling life for very little money. My quality of life is hugely improved in some ways - the fancy M&S cheese I miss out on now is made up for by the few extra hours I have to spend on my hobbies.

I wish you the best of luck!

bexster1975

I think it depends what you plan to do. I get the feeling from the OP that she wants/needs to work full time, just not 80 hours a week including commuting! I empathise. I confess I've not found entertaining myself has cost much. I do work close to full time hours though. I have national trust membership and local wildlife trust membership, both as gifts for birthday or Christmas. I have a gift magazine subscription, and Amazon prime as a gift too. I use the local library for Ebooks and eaudiobooks to save buying them. I have a range of hobbies from growing fruit and veg to sewing. I don't find it hard to fill the time, but I do have time to smell the roses.

I wasn't forced into my situation in quite the same way due to ill health, which likely makes the difference.

Bexster

moneyistooshorttomention

K80_Black wrote: »

I suddenly found myself with 40+ extra hours a week to fill, and little money to spend on my usual entertainment. I know you currently want to have more time to stop and smell the roses, but trust me, after a few months, you'll know what they smell like and be wanting to smell some daisies, peonies and fuchsia too! Bear in mind that with extra time off comes extra expenses for keeping yourself entertained.

If you haven't properly tracked your spending before, now might be a good time to start. Although I knew roughly how much I spent in total each month, I thought I spent far less on some things and far more on others. Keeping a detailed spending diary has helped me cut back on what I class as non-essentials.

You get what I mean:T

I must admit to thinking "Here we go again" any time someone says "I found I saved lots of money when I wasnt working - no travel/no work clothes/etc"
- as I sit there and think "Over the course of my 40+ years working - I had a job (not career) and rarely spent any money on transport costs to get to it/never spent any money on clothes specially for work. There was one expense basically - latterly for many years I worked for the Civil Service - and therefore money was constantly being requested for collections for other staff and that was largely a one-way traffic thing for those of us that never got married/had children".

Not working (due to retirement now) and got that extra 40 hours and so the "regulars" are 2 dance classes a week and group lunch out after one of them = about £30 per week for those two things alone. Then the more intermittent things - of cinema (£7 a go), music events (£10-£15 per go and whatever drinks I buy) etc. So am only too thankful I no longer have to do that job - whew!

But a paid-for social life does cost - and it's a lot more than money paid into work collections did.

lessonlearned

Some interesting thoughts.

Like many on here my circumstances are not of my choosing, my retirement is not what I planned for and envisaged but here's the thing. Life throws us curved balls. We have to play the hand we are dealt.

I now have a much smaller income but it is "enough". By adopting a simple life I am able to "live well for less" . I can still travel, have fun, run a little car and get out and about. I can still indulge in a few little luxuries.

In fact my mission is to "Live a champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget". It can be done, it just takes a bit of thought and a bit of effort.

What I have learned from this website has really helped me make the most if my money.

I am not rich by any means but money isn't everything. I Would rather have time and freedom than be a wage slave in a job which was making me ill.

Life really is too short and good health once lost is very difficult to regain.

moneyistooshorttomention

Very true that good health is a major factor.

I think it must be an Irish phrase - but I do remember an Irish work colleague I had "back when" using the phrase "Your health is your wealth" to me (whilst grinning at the thought she might well have said that to me prior to going out on the lash and having "a drink - or 10":rotfl:).

lessonlearned

As for "entertainment" I think a lot will depend on where you live.

Cities have parks, museums, galleries, theatres, cinemas, and often have all manner of free or low cost entertainment opportunities. The countryside itself is free of course and there are lots of low cost country pursuits but sometimes entertainment opportunities can cost more, especially if you have to factor in transport costs.

I guess it's all swings and roundabouts.

We just have to "bloom where we are planted" :rotfl:

jackieblack

I've never had a 'big/important' well paying job, or career. But that was my choice. Working in financial services in the late '80s/early 90s I very easily could have ended up on the rat-race treadmill, but I saw the way things were heading and chose to get off before I was 'sucked in'. I have been criticised in the past for being 'under-employed', but I've always valued a good work/life balance ahead of possessions and/or excess money.

I have always worked. Currently I work 30 hours a week, term time only. I don't earn enough to pay any income tax, but I live simply, frugally and happily. As long as I earn 'enough' for my needs, I value the time away from work more than I would value surplus money.

After general living costs, my biggest expense is travel (and, for me, travel is a 'need') - about 1/4 of my annual income is allocated for that. Being single, and only able to travel at peak times, it makes travelling a relatively more expensive activity for me but, for me, it is worth it. (I appreciate different people have different priorities and interests.)

Being able to leave work in the middle of the afternoon and sit in my garden with a book brings me joy. Having time to help my ageing parents is a great privilege. And, hopefully when grandchildren come along in the future, having time to spend with them will be wonderful.
I value those things far more than having a lot of extra money in the bank, a flashy car or designer clothes/shoes/handbags etc.


I have friends who work a huge number of hours a week in very stressful jobs. Many of them hope to retire a bit earlier and do all the things they don't have the time (or energy) for now.
I also know people who have dropped dead suddenly (one in his 40s, another the week after they retired), been killed or seriously injured in accidents or been diagnosed with serious medical conditions before they've done all/any of the things they'd been planning to.
I don't know anyone who wishes they'd worked longer.

Lifeofdreams

Dear all

Thank you so much for all of your replies. I feel overwhelmed and grateful for the support, suggestions, experiences and point to consider you have shared.

I have been up early, already done washing, tidied kitchen, lounge, planned food shopping for next week and drinking coffee before I clean the bathroom and DH will then do rest of cleaning whole I do the preparation required to meet my deadline at work on Monday.

If I am lucky I will get this finished by 3pm and will be able to relax rest of day. DH and I are up for work for 5am out of house at 6.30 and will not get back in until at least 6pm. We are both tired and so difficult to do other things through the week.

Any other time spent on wider family matters. I am occasionally able to work from home and sometimes stay overnight at DS house which is nearer to where I work if I start to feel too tired, also good opportunity to catch up with him.

I agree going to work does have its costs, but I am also aware being at home does. My costs to go to work are significant. In terms of social activities DH and I have simple tastes. Coffee out on a weekend preferably with cake! Is biggest pleasure! Love country walks, reading, knitting, cooking and I used to sew many years ago. I want to spend more time with our elderly parents not wait until I have to because they need me too.

I am so sorry to hear that early retirement from work has been enforced on some posters through I'll- health and recognise that if I don't change things there is e potential for this to happen to me.

Jackieblack I think you have a great philosophy. LessonLearned I would love to live a champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget.

K80Black having reduced income/ more free hours enforced is very differnt to having a choice. I still need to work part time ( probably at least 25 hours) depending on pay/ travel cost. I am as you suggest you g to track my spending.

Bexter I think my interests mirror yours a lot. One of the loveliest things I experienced was free I attended a group session in public library where a group of ladies of all ages got together to make rug rags for library displays. Learned how to make rag rug but sadly only went to 3 as could only go when on holiday.

Well off to work now. Enjoy your Sunday all and once again thank you for your support��

mumf

Late to the party...but so many similar stories! I have never earned a massive wage,but this year I landed a job that paid more than I ever dreamt of,( and still below the national average).My boss asked me to take on the manager role,which I did on the proviso that it was on a three month trial.I stuck it for four months,and realised that the stress was killing me.My mental health was literally on the line,and I knew for sure when I was on my forty five minute drive to work,and I pulled over and burst into tears.I pulled myself together,went to work and jacked the job in there and then!

I am still employed by the company,but in my original job.It is the first time I have experienced work stress - and it won't happen again.I am looking for a different job,and I aim to take on less hours.Our house was paid for years ago,and we live quite simply.

suki1964

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Just a note of caution here re the free events locally - to check whether your particular area has this okay or is one of those that basically never have free events. I've lived in my current area for a few years now - and think I've only been to a number of free events I can count on one hand during that time. There just aren't any - except the odd few for "families with children" and the odd few for those learning the Welsh language. For the majority of people - don't count on there being free events to go to.

So one does need to check for the area concerned.

I know that free events and lots of opportunities for voluntary (or political activist;)) work exist in my home area (which I've now moved from). There was very little restriction in my social life during periods of unemployment causing money problems - I was still very active thank you. But in some areas a lack of money would really cause you to struggle for "things to do". NB; Not forgetting the local cinema doesn't basically give concessions to pensioners (so no half price films in some areas then either).

Note my "its a tourist area"